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California Democrats Fault Republicans for Budget Stance

Democratic legislators in California are criticizing their Republican colleagues for advocating budget proposals that focus on spending cuts, arguing that a recent state report shows that areas Republicans represent receive far more state funding for health care and other services than districts Democrats represent, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

A report by the nonpartisan state Legislative Analyst Office indicated that counties in far Northern California and the Central Valley are among those where state spending significantly exceeds state tax revenue.Â By comparison, Bay Area counties generate much more revenue for the state than the state spends on services in the counties.

Assembly member Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) said, "My Republican colleagues from these counties are the ones who want to propose an all-cuts budget (even though) the burden primarily falls on their own constituents."Â She added, "And that they oppose new revenues (even though) the burden falls primarily on Democratic constituents."

Evans requested the LAO report.

Assembly member Mike Villines (R-Clovis) said, "I'm very sensitive to make sure that rural counties don't take a disproportionate hit, but there has to be cuts across the board as a component of the budget."

Medi-Cal Implications

According to Jean Ross, executive director of the California Budget Project, cuts to Medi-Cal would have more impact on rural counties than urban ones because facilities in rural counties rely on state assistance more heavily.

Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program (Yi, San Francisco Chronicle, 2/6).
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